Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Kirilenko will carry Russian flag in Games

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Utah Jazz: Kirilenko will carry Russian flag in Games

Wonderful | 8:22 a.m. July 30, 2008

I think that's great. I know he has is detractors here, and I think he is overpaid, but he is a nice young man.

Good for AK | 8:33 a.m. July 30, 2008

That is really cool for AK! What a great honor for him to have. I am glad though to see that someone other than AK is reporting this though. If it was just AK reporting this news, then he might have been seen walking into the stadium with just a little three inch Russian flag. Yes, AK you are holding "a russian flag."

Great | 8:45 a.m. July 30, 2008

Thats a great honor for him. Now what I want is for him to carry his load for the Jazz. When paid like he is we need more from him.

Comments continue below

Ivan Drago | 8:45 a.m. July 30, 2008

(Deep, menacing, monotone voice): Da, it is good to see young Andrei carry the symbolic glory of Mother Russia. We will crush you!

Also, Go Jazz!

nyjazzfan | 9:09 a.m. July 30, 2008

I dont understand why AK gets so much flak from Jazz fans, he shot the highest FG percentage of his career last year and almost singlehandedly defeated the Lakers in the last ten minutes of the last game. Sloan doesn't call many o-sets for the guy and yet he is still in double digits. His blocks and rebounds are down because he is busy chasing the koby's and Mcgrady's on the perimeter... This guy is a super-valuable piece that can guard all 5 positions on the floor, pass and score.. get real Jazz fans..

JazzFanInHouston | 9:36 a.m. July 30, 2008

AKs numbers would be slightly better if the Jazz would stop trying to force everything thru Boozer when he is defended by tall athletic defenders. AKs versatility is underated and he is worth a large contract (that is why he has one). At 16 mil he is probably over paid about 3 or 4 mil a year. He can play several positions well and is very valuable to a run and gun team. He also is very valuable to a European team.

He has been moved from PF to SF and in the Jazz scheme that reduces his offensive output. However, he is important insurance and can be veteran leadership when he wants to. DWill has been emerging as the new leader of the Jazz. DWill also controls how many touches AK gets. AK used to be the leader of the Jazz (when he signed his new contract). That leadership transition has effected AKs attitude in the past.

Rumor is that Houston just got Artest. The Jazz will have to get one more very good player to compete. LA, NO and Houston are better at this point.

nyjazzfan | 10:10 a.m. July 30, 2008

Houston did get Artest and that is frustrating because the Jazz wasted stockton/malone career because they didnt want to pull the trigger and get the missing piece to the puzzle. Camby would have been a great pick-up, Artest would have been great.. lets roll the dice, get McDyess, or Mourning, those guys are old but they can still defend better than Boozer or Memo. Bring them in to spell Boozer and Memo to toughen up the D.. They would not even be that expensive. The Jazz need to do something now because their competition just keeps getting better..

Anonymous | 10:20 a.m. July 30, 2008

That's great for A.K. Keep him over there.

who cares | 11:15 a.m. July 30, 2008

No matter what the Jazz do they will never win a championship. They can not get the better role players to come here and play. You have to have a bench that can score to win a championship. Never happen!!! So just keep the players we have a pray for a miracle. If Boozer leaves, who cares. Whoever he guards, scores more points than he does game in and game out. AK is a keeper because he does the little things. Memo can score but refuses to play the post or defense. All you AK haters need to face reality. AK does more for the TEAM than either Boozer or Memo.

Your kidding right? | 11:17 a.m. July 30, 2008

MCDyess, Mourning, or even Artest would be the missing piece to a championship? I enjoy reading these comments for laughs and to remind me that KOC knows more than most about building a team.

Houston is better? | 11:19 a.m. July 30, 2008

With the Straw Man & McBaby -- yea powerhouse. McBaby has the self confidence of a slug. Now add Detest to the situation and his cancerous personality will dominate. There is a slight chance that the Rockets will be better, but I am not counting on it. I think that wackjob is going to bring what little the Rockets have down in shambles.

v | 11:29 a.m. July 30, 2008

I have said it before. Every great team has a long-armed defender (Pippin in Chicago, Odom in LA, Garnett in Boston, etc). AK is ours and is invaluable. Loose him and we have zippo defense against talented shooting guards and small forwards.

v | 11:31 a.m. July 30, 2008

Wonderful, all star NBA players are overpaid. I think a couple million dollars a year is enough for anyone. That one-year salary is about what I will make in my lifetime.

FstBrkGP | 12:15 p.m. July 30, 2008

I heard Olden Polynice might still be available

FstBrkGP | 12:15 p.m. July 30, 2008

Olden Polynice is still available!

JazzFanInHouston | 12:26 p.m. July 30, 2008

Mourning is very cheap and could be rented for a year if he was willing to come. He would be a great replacement for Collins (no offense to Collins).

Artest and Adleman have worked together before. Artest's contract is up next year so he can be dumped if he causes any trouble.

In wages of win Jackson was worth 2+ wins and Artest was worth 3+ wins. However, Artest can help carry the Rockets if Ming or McGrady get hurt. Artest scored 20 points a game last year and can play defense (sometimes).

The Rockets are paying two first round draft picks to trade Jackson for Artest. That is a high price for a 1 year rental. However, he plays more than one position and can carry the scoring load if one of the scorers goes down.

Adelman is building a team that can win without Ming (and or McGrady).

Salary Cap Reality | 12:40 p.m. July 30, 2008

You AK supporters just don't get it!!! Nobody is saying that what AK does isn't valued!! It is just in the day of the salary cap you can't have a defensive specialist as your max salary player! You just can't! You may argue "well, give him the ball more." Serious?? Are you going to take it out of D-Will's hands? AK isn't strong enough to take over Boozer's role down low. Ak doesn't shoot the ball better than Memo to take his touches. He is left getting the type of shots he does and that would be fine (combined with the other nice things he does) IF he were paid less. As it is, he makes too much for what he gives and that will prevent us from going and signing the player you are all screaming for us to go and get. In other words, we can't deal for an Artest-like (we don't want Artest) player because they cost too much with AK on our squad. AK is nice - no doubt - but not $14 million nice when we need $$$ to sign some help.

Great Trade? | 1:19 p.m. July 30, 2008

Artest will never play for a winner. He could not play 2 minutes for Sloan.

Josh Smith Anyone | 2:28 p.m. July 30, 2008

I agree - we need to dum AK's salary before next year and better yet dump his "I don't want to just play defense" attitude this year. Any ideas how we could do a sign & trade to get Josh Smith or Marion for AK? How many teams would need to be involved to make it work?

Anonymous | 4:35 p.m. July 30, 2008

Trade AK for Marion. Then let Marion walk when his contract expires next yr. Give the extra PT to one of the young guys. Huge savings.

Carry Bags Next | 4:43 p.m. July 30, 2008

Next I'd like to see AK carry his bags to Memphis in exchange for a draft pick, a back up center, and some BBQ. Memphis has the cap space and need to pay someone, don't they? And, besides- they owe the Jazz a favor for that Gasol trade.

russia's mistake | 5:53 p.m. July 30, 2008

Russia's making a huge mistake, ak's great-it really shows how loved and respected he is in his home country-he should probably be more loved and respected in his adopted home too, but to choose him as the flag carrier over maria sharipova? And I thought the knicks made poor business decisions and lacked talent evaluation. What is russia thinking? The rockets get artest, and that could either work out well or blow up, i hope it blows up, but sharipova carrying the flag would've probably been the highlight of the olympics.

D.C. Jazz fan | 7:31 p.m. July 30, 2008

You people in Utah are crazy. Kirilenko is one of the top 25 players in the league.

I wish the wizards had him.

luol deng gets paid? | 7:55 p.m. July 30, 2008

i'd rather pay ak 15 million than deng 15 million, or gilbert arenas 18 million. if ak was on a team like memphis, he can singlehandedly make them a playoff contender. if he were on any fringe team, the team would be in the playoffs.
if he were the best player on a team, he'd be an allstar again.

JazzFanInHouston | 8:19 p.m. July 30, 2008

AK is a asset and a very unique one. So far UT is hopeful that continuity will carry them this year. If they have to they will make a trade before the deadline. This young team will be better than last year. However, Houston and NO are better than last year and LA is maybe better with Bynum.

The Jazz need a plan for beating both LA and Houston in the play offs. Houston is buzzing over the idea that Battier and Artest will be lock down defenders and that Artest, Ming and McGrady will be unstopable.

Artest can carry the Rockets if Ming or McGrady are out. I am not sure how much stronger they are with all 3 of them in (beyond Jackson) together.

Utah needs defense and (1)a very good backup C/PF or (2) a very proficient PG that they can play with DWill (the Olympic approach of using CP3 and DWill together) or both (1 and 2).

If Price is good enough, 2 may not be needed. If Koufos or Fes can play by the end of the year that may work for(1).

Re: anonymous 4:35 p.m. | 8:29 p.m. July 30, 2008

I am tired of Jazz fans throwing out the Marion trade scenario. There may have been some truth to it while Marion was in Phoenix, but now it's very unlikely the Heat would consider such a deal. The Heat is trying to dump salary to sign a major free-agent to team up with D-Wade in the coming years. The last thing it wants to do is take on a hefty contract in return for Marion. The scenario is unrealistic. Please, let's stop discussing it as a viable option for the Jazz.

Other than my rant, I say congrats to AK. Good luck representing your country.

Anonymous | 3:28 p.m. July 31, 2008

"Please, let's stop discussing it as a viable option for the Jazz" You are right I should probably stop. The last time a suggested a trade, I was in high-level negotiations for about a week. Man I hate it when my ideas get me pulled into the NBA management arena.

Anonymous | 1:42 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

wow to all the AK haters out there, did your pathetic eyes even watch the last two years in the playoffs? AK was awesome and he was and is our second best player behind Deron. yeah he gets a ton of money but what can you do? We cant trade him because we will not get full value in return. Im sure if he got as many touches as Booze he would score comparable figures to Booze. The Jazz are right there at the top of the west and if we could get some more interior defense we would be the best. The only gripe i have is that we didnt try to get Camby. Yes he would of cost a ton of money but for one year it would have been worth it. The best thing the Jazz have going is team chemistry that is lead by the best point in the league. AK is the man and he has to stay here for us to contend for the title. And houston with artest is not that much better. he is a selfish human so how is he going to get along with McGrady? Go Jazz!

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